was taken of the cattle, which were tied up
before dark to prevent their being stolen.

On the following day they very unexpectedly fell in with a party of nine
of the Bushmen, who were very busy devouring a quagga, which they had
killed. They replied to questions put to them with much fear and
trembling, and, having been presented with some tobacco, they made a
precipitate retreat. On that night the fires of the Bushmen were to be
seen on several of the surrounding hills. They continued their course
on the following day, when they fell in with about twenty women of the
race we have just mentioned, who approached the caravan without fear,
requesting tobacco and food; the former was given to them in small
quantities, and a shot from the Major's rifle soon procured them the
latter. They were now without water again, and had no chance of
procuring any, except from the pools, until they arrived at the Nu
Gariep, or Black River, which they had crossed when they came out from
the Caffre-land.

Having travelled till dark, they halted under a hill, and were soon
afterwards joined by a party of Bush-women, who continued with them in
spite of all their attempts to get rid of them. They were very small in
person, well made, and the young were rather pretty in their features,
but their ornaments were enough to disgust any one but a Hottentot; for
they were smeared with grease and red ochre, and were adorned with the
entrails of animals as necklaces. The Hottentots, however, appeared to
think this very delightful, and were pleased with their company, and as
the women showed them a pool of water, where the oxen could drink, it
was not considered advisable to drive them away. But Swinton observed,
that it would be necessary to keep a very sharp look-out, as the women
were invariably sent by the Bushmen as spies, that they might watch the
opportunity for stealing cattle.

They now resumed their former plan; starting at a very early hour, and
travelling till afternoon, when the cattle were allowed several hours to
feed, and were then tied up for the night to the waggons. Indeed the
lions were now not so numerous as they had been, and they had more to
fear from the Bushmen and the hyenas, which were very plentiful.

The next day fully proved the truth of this, for the oxen, having been
unyoked as usual to feed, about two o'clock in the afternoon, had been
led to a hollow of luxuriant pasture by the cattle-keepers, where they